Maria McKee (album)

Maria McKee is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Maria McKee, released in 1989.[2][3]

Maria McKee
Studio album by
Maria McKee
ReleasedJune 1989
GenreCountry rock
Length44:43
LabelGeffen[1]
ProducerMitchell Froom
Maria McKee chronology
Maria McKee
(1989)		 You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
(1993)

Production

The songwriting was inspired in part by books about the history of vaudeville, as well as by Tennessee Williams plays.[4]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[1]
Hi-Fi News & Record ReviewA:1*[6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[7]
New Musical Express10/10[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]

The Washington Post's Joe Brown called the album "stunning", writing that "aside from her luminous singing, the real success story of McKee's solo album is her songwriting, highly developed and ambitious, full of melodic and rhythmic variety."[10] Chris Willman writing for the Los Angeles Times stated the album "presents Maria McKee the person as something of an introspective, even introverted loner reeling from a romantic split."[11] Ira Robbins considered McKee's "lyrics don't reveal any clear artistic mission and Mitchell Froom's overstylized production ... drowns and/or drains her personality out of the album, leaving characterless elegance instead of a strong statement."[12] Oscar Wednesday of Cashbox was disappointed by this record. He wrote: "I really wanted to love this album. As far as I'm concerned Maria McKee is one of the most talented and exciting singers around today. No, honest. But after listening to the album repeatedly, I found myself anything but captivated. Lone Justice's second and final album, 1986's Shelter, was unfocused and awkward, and although this solo outing stands head-and-shoulders above that effort, it too feels a little unnatural."[13]

Terry Staunton, writing for New Musical Express, felt that McKee's decision to work with "the elite of American sessions musicians" produced "astonishing results" and suggested the album "has to be one of the best records of the year". He praised McKee's "honey roast vocals" for "matching the frail passion of Patsy Cline, the fiery soul of Aretha Franklin and the forceful blues of Janis Joplin". Staunton added, "Maria's always been able to pen a good tune and here you'll hear nine of her best."[8] NME placed the album at No. 9 on its 1989 albums of the year list.[14] Ian Gittins of Melody Maker summarised, "Maria McKee is country, is blues, is soul, is rock 'n' roll, but is always one delicious demon possessed by the spirit of her songs. I defy you to hear this and not fall in love."[15]

Track listing

All songs by Maria McKee, except where noted

  1. "I've Forgotten What It Was in You (That Put the Need in Me)" – 3:41
  2. "To Miss Someone" – 3:52
  3. "Am I the Only One (Who's Ever Felt This Way?)" – 2:56
  4. "Nobody's Child" (McKee, Robbie Robertson) – 3:58
  5. "Panic Beach" – 5:55
  6. "Can't Pull the Wool Down (Over the Little Lamb's Eyes)" – 3:45
  7. "More Than a Heart Can Hold" (Bruce Brody, McKee) – 4:29
  8. "This Property Is Condemned" (Brody, McKee, Patrick Sugg, Gregg Sutton) – 4:44
  9. "Breathe" (McKee, Sutton) – 4:39
  10. "Has He Got a Friend for Me?" (Richard Thompson) – 3:32
  11. "Drinkin' in My Sunday Dress" – 3:27

Personnel

Production

  • Mitchell Froom – producer
  • Gary Gersh – executive producer
  • Bruce Brody – associate producer
  • Tchad Blake – engineer
  • Ed Goodreau – assistant engineer
  • Mike Kloster – assistant engineer
  • Randy Staub – assistant engineer
  • Randy Wine – assistant engineer
  • Scott Woodman – assistant engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Bruce Brody – arranger
  • Gabrielle Raumberger – art direction
  • Maria DeGrassi – design
  • Deborah Frankel – photography

Charts

Album – Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1989 Billboard 200 120[16]

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1989 "I've Forgotten What It Was in You (That Put the Need in Me)" Modern Rock Tracks 29

References
  1. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 652.
  2. "Maria McKee | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  3. Schoemer, Karen (January 1990). "Lonesome Dove". SPIN: 23.
  4. Buckley, Peter (November 16, 2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531050 – via Google Books.
  5. Maria McKee at AllMusic
  6. Dellar, Fred (September 1989). "Review: Maria McKee — Maria McKee" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). Vol. 34, no. 9. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 101. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  7. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 685.
  8. Staunton, Terry (June 17, 1989). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 33.
  9. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 463.
  10. Brown, Joe (August 30, 1989). "PIOUS, PAGAN MARIA MCKEE" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  11. Willman, Chris (July 31, 1989). "POP MUSIC REVIEW : A Calmer but Strong McKee". Los Angeles Times.
  12. Robbins, Ira. "Maria McKee". Trouser Press. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  13. Wednesday, Oscar (June 17, 1989). "Albums: Maria McKee – Maria McKee" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. 52, no. 49. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  14. "1989 | NME". NME. October 10, 2016.
  15. Gittins, Ian (March 9, 1991). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 32.
  16. "Maria McKee". Billboard.
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